Chick shipping container



Aug. 27, 1957 J. H. NUTE CHICK SHIPPING CONTAINER med Dec. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A ORNEY Aug. 27, 1957 J. H, NUTE 2,804,252

` CHICK SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 28, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR /Vars Uniteci n' and Licensing Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Massachusetts Appucatidnncmberzs, 1953, seal m1400569V 3 Claims. (1.229-6) This invention relates to containers for shipping baby chicks, and more particularly to such containers constructed of corrugated board, solid tiberboard or the like.

Chick shipping containers of this type are generally constructed with crossed partitions extending through vthe body portion of the container to subdivide the latter into compartments. The partitions serve the dual purpose of compartmenting the container aswell as increasing its rigidity for stacking purposes. v I A) g Y One such container over which the present invention is an improvement is illustrated in the patent to Paul et al., No. 2,615,611. The invention is primarily concerned with a box having inclined sides and ends and a cover having a channel therein which is so formed that the cover is locked in position. The channel may extend across the top of the box with vent openings therein positioned in the bottom and sides of the channel portion of the lid so that there is opportunity for the free circulation of air to the inside of the box when stacked for shipping. In the art prior to the said Paul et al. patent, the partitions were generally secured to opposite parts of the body portion and when the container was lifted, the bottom of the container under the load of the chicks contained therein, sagged away from the partitions, leaving a space between the bottom end of the partitions. In these boxes chicks oft-times put their toes in the interval between the bottom of the box and the partition, and when the box was again put down, the partition caused injury to the chicks. The Paul et al. patent solved this problem, but stacking strength was susceptible of improvement.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shipping container for baby chicks combining unusual stacking strength and prevention of toe pinching.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shipping container for baby chicks in which at least one partition is of unusually strong construction to facilitate stacking.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a shipping container for baby chicks in which there is at least one partition of unusual strength to facilitate stacking, and which partition is continuous with the bottom of the box to prevent toe pinching.

Other objects of the invention will appear more fully from the detailed description herein and from the drawings. The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it will be understood that variations and substitutions may be made within the scope of the claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the chick shipping container embodying the invention with the cover partly removed.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the container showing the cover in place.

Fig. 3 is a similar view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank used for the container. y

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one partition member.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the top blank.

As shown in the drawings, the container comprises a box body portion indicated generally by the numeral 10, and a cover portion indicated generally by the numeral 11, each made of corrugated board, solid iiberboard, or the like.

The body portion 10 comprises two substantially identical half-bottom portions 12 and 13. Continuous therewith and folded upwardly therefrom, is the central partition member formed byportions 14 and 15. rThe body portion also includes sides 17 and 18 continuous with and folded upwardly from the bottom. There are also provided four substantiallyY identical end walls 20 divided from the bottom sections 12 and 13 by score lines. These end portions each contain tuck-in flaps 21 andvsecuring aps 22, adapted to be stapled, glued, or otherwise secured when the box is set up. Tuck-in flaps 21V are preferably arcuate for ease in assembling, but may be rectangular.

The two side members 17 and 18, as well as the two central partition members 14 and 15 preferably contain substantially identical trapezoidal cut-outs 24. These cutouts are adapted to` receive the cover member 11 which is provided with spaced parallel scores or creases 23 and intervening spaced parallel reverse scores 24 to form a channel portion to be received within the trapezoidal recesses for holding the cover in engagement with the body portion. Preferably also, the cover is provided at opposite ends thereof with aps 25 adapted to be tucked downwardly to aid in holding the cover in position.

Another partition member 27 illustrated in detail at Fig. 5 contains a slot 28 adapted to lock with the corresponding slot 29 of the first partition. Partition 27 is Aalso provided with angularly positioned flaps 30 which In assembling the box from the blank shown at Fig. 4,

the central partition is first formed by folding portions 14 and 15 upwardly, folding flaps 21 upwardly, folding end wall portions 20 upwardly, and simultaneously inserting flaps 21. Sides 17 and 18 are then folded upwardly and then aps 22 secured as by by stapling to these side Walls. 1Staples should also be inserted through partition portions 14 and 15, and may, if desired, even be extended through flaps 21. Partition 27 may then be set in. place and tiaps 3l) stapled to the side walls 17 and 18. The cover member may be folded and placed on the box as indicated at Fig. l.

All of the sides, ends and partition members preferably contain a plurality of holes as indicated for ventilation purposes. It will be understood that while the box illustrated contains the channel vent across the top thereof, this is preferable,.but the principal features of the invention may be applicable to a box having an ordinary telescoping cover without a channel vent.

It will be seen, therefore, that according to the invention, the box has one partition of unusual strength to facilitate stacking, and also that sagging of the bottom is center partition layers provides some additional circulation of air. Y

I claim:

l. In a chick box of flexible berboard, a body portion comprising a body member, a central partition Vmem-l ber of two face to face layers formed continuously with the bottom of the box and folded upwardly therefrom, thus forming a bottom of two half-portions, upwardly extending side walls and upwardly' extending end walls, each of said end walls folded upwardly from the bottom of the box and formed of two portions each with an arcuate ap inserted between the two layers of said.` central partition member, a transverse partition member locked` by slot means to said central partition member, said partition layers being fastened together` and said side walls fastened to said end walls, said side walls and said end walls being slanted inwardly,

2. Ina chick box of flexible berboard, a bodyportion comprising a body member, a central partition member of two face to face layers formed continuously'with the bottom of the box and folded upwardly therefrom, thus forming a bottom of two half-portions, upwardly extending side walls and upwardly extending end walls, each of said end walls folded upwardly from the bottom of the box and formed of two portions each with an arcuate flap inserted between the two layers of said centralpartition member, said partition layers being'fastened together and said side walls fastened to said end walls, said s1de walls and said end walls being slanted inwardly, said side walls and said central partition member having substantially identical trapezoidal cut-out portions at the topthereof.

3. In a chick box of flexible berboard, a body portion comprising a body member, a central partition member of two face to face layers formed continuously with the bottom of the box and folded upwardly therefrom, thus forming a bottom of two half-portions, upwardly extending side walls and upwardly extending end walls, each of said end walls folded upwardly from the bottom of the box and formed of two portions each with an arcuate flap inserted between the two layers of said central partition member, said partition layers being fastened togetherand said side walls fastened to said end walls, said side walls and said end walls being slanted inwardly, said side walls and said central partition member having substantially identical trapezoidal cut-out portions at the top thereof and a cover member having a central portion folded `downwardly into said trapezoidal eut-outs to form a channel across the top of the box. f

References Cited in the tile of this patent i UNITED STATES PATENTS 

